Maslin family's living hell

Maslin family s living hell - The West Australian

The parents of a Perth family ripped apart by the MH17 tragedy have released a heart-wrenching statement today, saying no hate in the world will ever be as strong as the love they have for their three children.

Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris said they were living in a 'hell beyond hell' which they would endure for the rest of their lives.

The couple remained in Amsterdam where the family had been holidaying as their children Evie, 10, Mo, 12 and Otis, eight, travelled home on MH17 with their grandfather Nick Norris.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon released this statement on their behalf.

"Our pain is intense and relentless. We live in a hell beyond hell.

"Our babies are not here with us – we need to live with this act of horror, every day and every moment for the rest of our lives.

"No one deserves what we are going through.

"Not even the people who shot our whole family out of the sky.

"No hate in the world is as strong as the love we have for our children, for Mo, for Evie, for Otis.

"No hate in the world is as strong as the love we have for Grandad Nick.

"No hate in the world is as strong as the love we have for each other.

"This is a revelation that gives us some comfort.

Tributes left at Scotch College where Mo Maslin was a student. Picture: Michael Wilson, The West Australian

"We would ask everyone to remember this when you are making any decisions that affect us and the other victims of this horror.

"So far, every moment since we arrived home, we’ve been surrounded by family and friends. We desperately pray that this continues, because this expression of love is what is keeping us alive.

"We want to continue to know about your lives, all the good and all the bad. We no longer have lives that we want to live by ourselves. So we’d like to take the chance to thank everyone, all our incredible friends, family and communities, and to tell you all that we love you very much. "

The couple thanked DFAT staff and representatives from The Hague who had supported them and asked for privacy to grieve.